In the name of Education.....

 In the name of Education ...

Before starting this blog, we would like to clear a few things.

A): The content of this blog is highly influenced by Ted talks, articles and information available on the internet. Since such information is accessible to all, I've tried to base this blog on personal experiences and observations. If you find anything factually wrong, please do not hesitate to point it out in the comment section. 

B) This blog, as pointed out earlier, is based on personal opinions. If your beliefs contradict anything mentioned, I would encourage you to start a conversation in the comment section so that other readers gain more perspective and benefit from your thoughts. 

C) I highly recommend you to start thinking and pondering over things like this, and not to stay ignorant. The motive of this week's blog would be satisfied if you also assess your thoughts and observe your surroundings. 

 

With that complete, let's read the blog: 

 

The history of Indian Education started from the age of the Aryans. The first form of formal education was discovered during this time. But this system was followed centuries ago and is not prevalent in today's times. The actual origin of the education system of independent India (independent from the British Raj, not very much from social issues) is traced from the British Raj. A period at which we look at with extreme resentment, but also with patriotic emotions as it reminds us of the courage of our ancestors. But unfortunately, we shall not be very proud of the colonial times have left us with. Obsession with fair skin is a known dent that the English have left us with. The education system is something that we must point out as well. 

The Indian Education system was, as a matter of fact, created for the benefit of the British themselves. Out of the other things that they've done for their benefit, at only the tragic loss of India, this one angers me the most. The cruel rulers created this education especially to produce clerks that work at their factories. Clerks, the uncreative, English-speaking, obedient to commands, clerks. Prestigious languages such as Sanskrit, Persian and other vernacular languages were slowly gotten rid of from the system.  

Today, subjects like English, Mathematics and Science are given more importance, which we shall thank the British for (sarcastic comment, not to be thankful for really). The subjects related to art are not given as much importance, but at least more than pre-independence. If you observe the timetable that the school provides, you see the subjects of English and Maths are given the most amount of time, whereas your Art lecture only comprises of 40 minutes a week or two. 

Textbooks of all kinds are written in English, and the language is given more importance and is considered respectful. Hindi, our national language is rarely being spoken, despite its beauty. Well, the languages are not a huge concern as most children of India grow up to be multilingual, with the knowledge of their mother tongue, Hindi -to communicate with acquaintances, and lastly English. 

Our education system lacks the addition of subjects that promote critical thinking, politics, emotional intelligence, leadership skills, social skills, communication skills, and sympathy. One needs these skills to survive the real world and not the Pythagoras theorem. What I mean to say is that these topics are as integral as others and can sometimes be more interesting, useful and easier to understand than the difficult math problems. Yes, I agree that such Math problems improve the logical thinking of a kid, but too much pressure on these only ruins the good parts. Taxes drive the country, but unfortunately, the process to file taxes are not being taught. 

Speaking of pressure, the insane expectations of children is not something unheard of. It is terrifying that about 28 children die from suicides every day. This proves that there is something wrong with the system and it cannot be ignored. I used to thoroughly enjoy my English Literature classes before the aspect of marks bothered me. The fear of losing marks and not seeing a perfect score on the report card is extremely common. While teaching a topic, even the teachers may mention something like "This is very important for exams" or "This is something you need to remember". ICSE students are given something called a "Scope Book" stating all the topics one should concentrate on. If this isn't ridiculous, what is? Try to study without the worry of remembering stuff and you will realise the joy. But it is a difficult task when your mind has been trained to hack a test, not to learn a concept. I am guilty of consciously noting down all "important points" for help during the examination weeks as marks will fetch me a good college, a thought I'm slowly trying to let go of.

 Rote learning is being promoted, memorising becoming the key to success in examinations is not being admitted, but has become the way of several students. The bias towards already “intelligent” students is not only reducing the confidence of the other “weaker” students but also makes them feel like a failure themselves. Sometimes these “weaker” students have so much more to offer than the “intelligent” ones do. Neither of them is superior or inferior to each other, but are simply different. This is what the system needs to change. 

Everybody is a Genius. But If You Judge a Fish by Its Ability to Climb a Tree, It Will Live Its Whole Life Believing that It is Stupid

Teachers are also given respect on rare occasions. The salaries of teachers compared to profits of schools,that have now become businesses, are horribly low. These teachers have a profound impact on children, and with this responsibility, the teachers play an integral role in improving the education system, and hopefully, taking it forward. Teachers deserve as much respect as engineers or scientists of the country get, as they give away knowledge to the next generation of the country, that decides the future of the country. 

There has been a slight conversation of changes and policies have been made, but unfortunately not implemented. The changes will take time, it is going to be a journey, but when there is a delay, that is not justified, due to the government, which is unacceptable. The Indian constitution describes the Indian government as “of the people, by the people and for the people” and the people, i.e, we have to get up and fight for our requirements, which we have learnt from the period of 1947. 

Get our kids, not just to have their heads filled full of facts, and textbook materials, and teachers' lectures. Because frankly, that gives you a well-filled mind, but in the era of the Internet, you don't need a well-filled mind, you've got Google, right? Find everything you want with 2 clicks of the mouse. What you need is a well-formed mind. A mind that reacts to unfamiliar facts and details that can actually synthesize information that it hasn't studied before. A mind, in other words, that can react to the bigger examination called 'life, 'which doesn't actually only give you the things you're prepared for. And for that you need a mind that's shaped by original thinking, a mind that doesn't just ask the teacher, "Why?", but "Why not?"

The words of Dr Shashi Tharoor taken from a TedTalk 

All we’re asking for is this. We don’t want to study the way the British wanted us to, but we want to study the Indian way. A way where we can be more creative, in a way that we’re capable of handling this country, in a way where the future generation can speak of more inventions and discoveries of Indians other than the one by Aryabhatta and CV Raman. We’ve learned the art of making everything cheaper, reproducible and accessible,

we need to create things now.  

 

 

Other resources: 

The next world leader is in your class room - Here's how you educate them | Sharad Sagar | TEDxSuratI

The 3 Myths of the Indian Education System | Vinay Menon | TEDxThiruvananthapuram

The interesting story of our educational system | Adhitya Iyer | TEDxCRCE